The 'Happy Birthday' that changed everything.
After nine years on CatholicMatch, Michael spotted Hannah’s profile from the birthday list one day. He sent her a message, wishing her well on her birthday. Little did he know that Hannah would not check her account for awhile. She was on a trip to Thailand, and didn’t receive the message until her return home. So naturally, Michael thought she forgot about him!
However, upon returning and seeing Michael's message, Hannah eagerly looked through his profile. She found it to be “so thoughtfully and thoroughly written,” and noticed one particular picture of his that stood out. “Something about Michael's presence in the picture intrigued me. I was interested so I messaged back,” Hannah remarks.
A summer block party set the stage for the first date.
After about a month of messaging back and forth, the two met in person at the “World’s Largest Block Party” at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. Ironically, this event is known for being “the best place in the city to meet your future spouse.” Hannah brought along her long-time friend for moral support, “just in case things went south." Michael brought along his two friends from his studies at the Liturgical Institute—a priest and another friend who is now a monk!
It was a fun first date, so they soon planned a one-on-one date. “Hannah seemed like all of the things I had only found in parts in others,” says Michael. Their relationship soon took off. Michael continued his studies, where he and Hannah enjoyed spending time together on the beautiful grounds of campus and with his joyful classmates.
“Don’t wait too long.”
After his time in the Chicago area, Michael moved to Texas as a church architect. For about two years, Hannah and Michael’s relationship was spent long-distance. Though this time in their relationship was blessed for the solid foundation of communication it helped create, living far apart was not easy.
On the phone one day with her brother, Hannah shared her debate about whether she should move to Texas. “Don’t wait too long,” was his advice to her. This was the nudge from the Holy Spirit that she needed.
After moving to Texas, Hannah and Michael’s relationship continued on a steady path of discernment. Hannah remembers that, “at a certain point people started to comment on the length of our [dating relationship] and would place subtle pressure on us to marry, but both Michael and I were confident in the Lord's timing.”
Coming from different family settings, growing up in different parts of the country, and experiencing the faith differently throughout their upbringings—they wanted to take their time in growing together. “Michael was different from any man I had previously dated so it took time to grow in vulnerability with him,” Hannah admits.
Spiritually preparing for marriage made all the difference.
On July 25, 2020—four years into their relationship—Michael proposed. The day was “incredible,” starting with Mass and confession, and ending with a dinner date complete with flowers, cocktails, and Giordano’s pizza that Michael had ordered from Chicago!
“After dinner Michael proposed on bended knee and of course I said yes!” gushes Hannah.
Their 14-month engagement was filled with spiritual preparation and wedding planning. Though planning a wedding is quite stressful, they intentionally completed their plans a month before the wedding. At the guidance of a priest, they spent these last few weeks of engagement spiritually preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. “Of course, there were still odds and ends to take care of, but this was one of the best decisions we made, and would highly recommend this to other couples."
A beautiful liturgy at the center of their wedding day.
Hannah and Michael were joined in marriage on September 25, 2021 at their home parish, St. Mary Cathedral, in Austin. Michael’s brother, who is a priest, concelebrated the wedding along with a fleet of other priest friends—including the one who crashed their first date. And, the organ was “masterfully played” by their good friend the monk!
The day before the wedding, they offered exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and confession for their guests, which was one of the most memorable moments of the wedding weekend. Hannah and Michael had spent careful time planning their wedding liturgy, as they desired it to be the focal point of their wedding day.
“After the wedding we received many comments from our friends and family members (both practicing and non-practicing Christians) who expressed how moved they were by the beauty of our wedding liturgy. This was an immense blessing and truly an answer to our prayers,” the happy couple remarks.
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